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Dem who welcomed socialist mayor’s ‘change’ now sounding alarm over billionaire exodus: ‘Gravely concerned’

May 18, 2026 2:36pm EDT / Fox News

Council Member Rob Saka said he is ‘gravely concerned’ after previously praising then Mayor-elect Katie Wilson’s ‘energy’

By Peter Pinedo Fox News

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A Democratic city council member who once welcomed the “change” from socialist Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is now admitting he is “gravely concerned” about the business exodus affecting the major American city.

This comes as blue states like Washington and New York face a business exodus in favor of more market-friendly red states. Starbucks, a major player in Seattle’s business scene, recently announced a major expansion into Nashville while simultaneously cutting Seattle-based corporate jobs, a move that has intensified concerns about Seattle’s business climate and economic competitiveness.

Wilson, a self-proclaimed socialist, recently went viral for laughing off the exodus of billionaires and business leaders from her city, saying, “I think the claims that millionaires are going to leave our state are super overblown,” and adding, “the ones that leave? Like, bye.”

Now, less than five months into Wilson’s term, Seattle Democratic Councilmember Rob Saka admitted to the New York Times, “I am gravely concerned,” telling the outlet, “This is real.”

BISHOP BARRON SLAMS ‘BORDERLINE COMMUNISTS’ SANDERS, MAMDANI AHEAD OF TRUMP PRAYER EVENT: ‘ECONOMY THAT KILLS’

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson declared last year at a barista picket line, “I am not buying Starbucks, and you should not either.’”(David Ryder/Reuters)

Saka previously welcomed Wilson after she defeated incumbent Bruce Harrell, saying in a statement, “The voters have spoken, calling for change and a renewed focus on affordability, community, and fighting back against a resurgent Trump agenda.”

He praised the “energy she brings to leadership,” and said he was “look[ing] forward to partnering with her to build a thriving, inclusive Seattle that uplifts working families, expands universal preschool for all, ends food deserts, and creates safer, more connected neighborhoods across our city.”

Starbucks recently announced it will shift 2,000 corporate jobs, primarily in IT and supply chain management, to a new regional headquarters in Nashville. Last week, KOMO News reported Starbucks laid off an additional 61 employees as part of a reorganization of its technology department at its corporate headquarters.

State leaders in Washington have also faced criticism for recently passing the “millionaires tax,” which Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on March 30. The measure has been described as the state’s first-ever income tax, backed by progressives and socialists and opposed by conservatives.

The new tax will impose a 9.9% income tax on households earning more than $1 million each year.

WHY STARBUCKS PICKED NASHVILLE OVER SEATTLE FOR EXPANSION, ACCORDING TO LOCAL BUSINESS REPORTER

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said the Seattle Police Department will be required to investigate, verify, and document any reports of immigration enforcement activity.(Katie Wilson for Seattle)

Starbucks is not the only business impacted by the state’s economic policies. The Columbia Tower Club, an iconic business club atop Seattle’s tallest skyscraper, closed last month after more than four decades. Long considered a hub for executives, developers and civic leaders, the club cited declining office traffic and downtown business activity tied to remote work and high vacancy rates. Critics quickly pointed to the closure as another sign of weakening business confidence in Seattle.

On Monday, the Washington State Republican Party ripped into both Wilson and the city council, posting on X, “Marxist @MayorofSeattle Katie Wilson is more concerned about toilet ribbon-cutting photo opps than massive capital flight in downtown #Seattle all the while @SeattleCouncil stands idle as a once iconic city crumbles.”

The jab refers to a recent Wilson event promoting new downtown public restrooms, which critics mocked amid concerns about Seattle’s economy and business climate.

Though Wilson’s now-infamous “like, bye” line drew laughs and applause from her audience, it immediately sparked backlash on social media from conservatives criticizing her economic policy.

“Seattle’s Socialist Mayor responds to exodus of wealth from Washington State by saying ‘BYE’… then laughing. We’re doomed,” wrote Brandi Kruse.

SOCIALIST MAYOR’S BLUNT 1-WORD MESSAGE TO FLEEING MILLIONAIRES SPARKS OUTRAGE: ‘WE’RE DOOMED’

The Space Needle stands over the Seattle skyline with Mt. Rainier visible in the background in Seattle, Wash., on March 13, 2022. The observation tower was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair and remains a popular tourist attraction despite recent challenges with homelessness and crime in the city.(John Moore/Getty Images)

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“This clip will live in infamy,” the Washington State Republican Party posted on X. “@MayorofSeattle Katie Wilson is not only unfit to be mayor, she lacks grace and gratitude. Perhaps, she’s the one who should leave #Seattle.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Saka and Wilson for additional comment.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel del Guidice, Joshua Q. Nelson and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.

U.S. announces Ebola-related travel restrictions amid outbreak in Congo, Uganda

May 18, 2026 / 12:41 PM EDT / CBS News
By Alex Sundby

The Trump administration announced Monday it’s adding additional screening measures and restricting people who don’t have U.S. passports from entering the country if they have been in three African nations affected by a growing Ebola outbreak. At least 80 people are believed to have died from the latest outbreak of the virus, according to the World Health Organization.

People without U.S. passports who have traveled to Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past three weeks will be restricted from entering the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.

The CDC also said the U.S. would enhance public health screening for people traveling from areas affected by the outbreak.

The travel order is among several measures announced by the CDC that take effect immediately and will be in effect for 30 days. The CDC said the travel order doesn’t apply to U.S. citizens, green-card holders or U.S. service members.

At least six Americans were exposed to Ebola virus in Congo, sources with international aid organizations told CBS News, although it was unclear if any had been infected. It also wasn’t immediately clear whether the Americans were still in Congo.

The agency also said it would try to identify people who have been exposed to the Ebola virus by coordinating with airlines, international partners and port-of-entry officials.

The CDC said the outbreak posed a low immediate risk to the U.S. general public.

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“We will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available,” the CDC said.

Dr. Céline Gounder contributed to this report.

Former ‘100% pro-life’ Republican turned Democrat is running for Georgia Governor on a promise to repeal abortion ban | CNN Politics

2026-05-18 3:04 PM EDT / CNN

Former ‘100% pro-life’ Republican turned Democrat is running for Georgia Governor on a promise to repeal abortion ban

By Dana Bash, CNN

Published 3:04 PM EDT, Mon May 18, 2026

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/politics/video/inside-politics-geoff-duncan-georgia-governor-interview

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Former ‘100% pro-life’ Republican turned Democrat is running for Georgia Governor on a promise to repeal abortion ban

Inside Politics

Former Republican Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan joins Inside Politics to discuss his run for Governor—as a Democrat. Duncan switched parties last year, and is now campaigning for Georgia’s highest office, in part on a promise to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban—a law he helped pass in 2019. “It’s certainly not a political change. This is too big of an issue to just politicize, in my opinion. This has really been a heart change,” says Duncan.

5:49 • Source: CNN

US health department withdraws vaccine advisory panel charter

2026-05-18T17:48:30.197Z / Reuters

By Reuters

May 18, 2026 5:48 PM UTC Updated 2 hours ago

U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. discusses the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey, during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S.,… Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabRead more

May 18 (Reuters) – The U.S. health department has withdrawn an April charter renewal for a key vaccine advisory panel that ​laid out new membership rules and direction, citing ‌an administrative error, according to a Federal Register notice issued on Monday.

The Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal was ​the result of not having met the timing ​requirements for such changes under federal law.

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U.S. Health ​Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had issued a new charter ​for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the ​Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine use in the country, on April 6.

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The advisory panel had been a key piece ​of Kennedy’s broader effort to reshape U.S. vaccine policy. ​Last year, he removed and replaced all 17 independent experts who ‌previously ⁠served on the panel.

The new charter followed a March 16 decision by Boston-based U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy as part of a court case seeking to overturn some of Kennedy’s ​vaccine-related changes. ​The charter ⁠expanded the role of the panel to include a focus on vaccine risks, vaccine safety ​evidence and what qualified individuals for membership.

Murphy’s ​ruling ⁠had put a hold on the committee, saying its members did not qualify based on its own charter.

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The Trump administration ⁠last ​month appealed the ruling, which blocked key ​changes under Kennedy’s leadership, including reducing the number of routinely recommended childhood ​vaccinations.

Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

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Karen Bass ripped after suggesting taxpayer-funded dental care for meth users

Bass made the remark during a candidate forum on homelessness as she faces a competitive re-election challenge

May 18, 2026 12:39pm EDT / Fox News

Jimmy Failla & Dave Landau Roast Karen Bass Over Latest Campaign Proposal

Comedian Dave Landau joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to share his thoughts on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisting that homeless meth addicts should have access to free teeth in an effort to make them more viable job applicants.

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing backlash after suggesting taxpayers should fund dental care for meth users, arguing many cannot rebuild their lives without teeth.

Bass, who is vying in a crowded June primary for a second mayoral term, made the remark during a candidate forum last week on the city’s homelessness crisis.

“How many people that you meet that are unhoused don’t have teeth at all?” Bass said during an exchange. “They don’t have teeth. Why? Because meth rots your teeth.”

“You can’t succeed without teeth. So there needs to be comprehensive healthcare provided to people,” she continued.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass drew swift backlash after proposing taxpayer-funded dental care for meth users in the city.(Kirby Lee/IMAGN Images)

CALIFORNIA’S BATTLE OVER CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS IS A WARNING TO THE NATION

Bass’s comments sparked an uproar among conservatives, who torched the incumbent’s response for appearing to omit any mention of tackling the root causes of the city’s homelessness and drug problems.

“A homeless drug addict just tried to stab me,” conservative journalist Dustin Grage wrote on the social media platform X, impersonating a Los Angeles resident affected by the city’s homeless crisis and drug epidemic. “Karen Bass: ‘It’s okay, we’re going to provide them free teeth so they can be successful now.’”

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6394896609112

Despite Bass’s claims of progress, Los Angeles continues to rank among the cities with the nation’s largest homeless population, with critics arguing the crisis has continued to fester under her watch.

More than 43,000 individuals in Los Angeles experienced homelessness in early February 2025, according to a count released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Former Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Zacharia also criticized Bass for not addressing the underlying drug epidemic in her remarks.

“Symptoms, never the disease,” Zacharia wrote.

“Clueless Karen Bass said that the worst part about meth addiction is that it ruins your teeth,” former Trump assistant attorney general Theo Wold wrote on X. “To paraphrase Norm MacDonald: Last time I checked, I thought the worst part about meth addiction was meth!”

A homeless person clears trash at a homeless camp on a sidewalk in Los Angeles on Aug. 6, 2025.(iStock)

LA TIMES OWNER SAYS ENDORSING KAREN BASS WAS A ‘MISTAKE’ DUE TO INCOMPETENCE

A spokesperson for Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bass, 72, an establishment Democrat who represented a Los Angeles-based seat in Congress from 2011 to 2022, is facing a competitive re-election challenge from her left and right flank.

Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, 44, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is touting her progressive bona fides. Meanwhile, former reality television star Spencer Pratt, 42, is emerging as a dark horse candidate after gaining momentum by hammering Bass’s response to the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires that obliterated his home and many others.

The upstart candidate has also ripped Bass’s failure to turn the corner on the city’s homelessness and public safety problems.

Spencer Pratt launched his mayoral campaign in January after being dissatisfied with incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.(Etienne Laurent)

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Pratt is a registered Republican, though the city’s mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan.

The June 2 primary is widely expected to go into a runoff election in which the top two vote-getters would appear on the ballot in November.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6394641214112

Trump says he’s called off plans for “scheduled attack of Iran” after request from Gulf partners

May 18, 2026 / 3:53 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — President Trump said Monday that he’s called off a U.S. attack on Iran that had been “scheduled” for Tuesday, after the United States’ Gulf partners requested it to allow for continued negotiations.

The president made the announcement on Truth Social Monday afternoon, following a request from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran says it’s relayed an amended set of terms for a possible deal to the Trump administration, through Pakistani mediators.

“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,” Mr. Trump wrote.

“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!” he continued in the post. “Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Mr. Trump also extended his original April 7 ceasefire indefinitely at the request of Pakistan’s leaders.

During the ceasefire, the Pentagon has said that it has planned for the possibility of resuming strikes against Iran, if the president decided to do so.

Over the weekend, the president warned the “clock is ticking” for Iran to accept a peace agreement, saying there “won’t be anything left of them” if the leaders of the Islamic Republic don’t “get moving, FAST.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, continuing to roil the oil market and affect the sectors that depend on it.

Eleanor Watson and Tucker Reals contributed to this report.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/where-things-stand-between-the-us-and-iran-as-trump-ramps-up-threats/

Trump says he’ll ‘hold off’ on attacking Iran on Tuesday but tells military to be ready ‘on a moment’s notice’

2026-05-18T19:20:07.853Z / CNN

By Kit Maher

10 min ago

PUBLISHED May 18, 2026, 3:20 PM ET

CNN

President Donald Trump said Monday that he will “hold off” on a Tuesday plan to attack Iran, citing a request from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as he said negotiations to end the war grow more “serious.”

Trump added in his Truth Social post that he’s instructed his leadership to “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice” if a deal isn’t reached.

“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN,” Trump added.

“I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

American doctor working in Congo tests positive for Ebola, CDC and aid group say

May 18, 2026 / 3:24 PM EDT / CBS News

An American doctor working with a medical missionary organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for Ebola, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the missionary group said Monday.

The individual was being taken to Germany for treatment, the CDC said.

There are more than 250 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths so far in the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and neighboring Uganda, the World Health Organization said. The WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency on Sunday.

The missionary group Serge said Dr. Peter Stafford tested positive for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus variant after being exposed while treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital, in the Congo city of Bunia, where he has served since 2023. His wife, who is also a doctor with the aid group, and another physician remain asymptomatic, the group said.

“All three medical professionals have strictly adhered to established quarantine protocols since the potential exposure,” Serge said in a statement on its website.

Six other Americans, in addition to Stafford, are expected to be moved out of the region to ensure they can be monitored or treated, the CDC said Monday.

Sources previously told CBS News that at least six Americans have been exposed in the outbreak.

The first suspected case in this outbreak was a health worker who reported symptoms starting on April 24 and died at a medical center in Bunia, the WHO said.

Since then, suspected cases have grown significantly and crossed country borders. Several factors, including the location of the outbreak — an urban area with significant population mobility — and attacks by armed groups in the region, have health officials concerned about further spread.

The outbreak is only the third known outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, one of the viruses that causes Ebola disease. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is no vaccine or treatment for this strain, which was first discovered in Uganda in 2007.

Ebolaviruses are transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. Initial symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. As the disease progresses, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, organ dysfunction and sometimes internal or external bleeding, the WHO said.

Because it spreads through close contact, family members, caregivers and medical personnel can be at high risk from exposure to sick patients.

Leigh Ann Winick contributed to this report.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/world-health-organization-sounds-alarm-about-ebola-outbreak/

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On rare campaign trail visit, Hegseth implores Kentucky voters to oust Massie

2026-05-18T19:41:05.087Z / CNN

By Jeff Zeleny, David Wright

19 min ago
PUBLISHED May 18, 2026, 3:41 PM ET

Ed Gallrein, Republican congressional candidate for Kentucky, greets Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on stage during an America First Workers Special Event on May 18, 2026 in Hebron, Kentucky.

Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Hebron, Kentucky—

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a rare wartime visit to the campaign trail on Monday, imploring Republicans in Kentucky to defeat GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and send President Donald Trump “reinforcements” who pledge to support his agenda.

Rallying alongside Ed Gallrein, Massie’s Republican challenger, on the eve of Kentucky’s primary, Hegseth railed against the congressman, whose repeated clashes with the administration over budgets, the Epstein files, and US support for Israel have infuriated the president.

“President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party,” he said. “He needs people trying to help him win, to vote with him when it matters most.”

He added: “When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process.”

Hegseth’s appearance in Hebron is among the only times in recent memory in which a secretary of defense took time from his Pentagon duties to campaign for a political candidate, who is running against one of the Iran war’s biggest critics.

“I have to say upfront,” Hegseth said at the opening of his remarks, “I’m here in my personal capacity.”

No Republican has infuriated Trump more than Massie, which has placed him in a precarious position heading into the Kentucky primary on Tuesday. The race in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District is already one of the most expensive primary contests ever, with more than $30 million spent on advertising alone, setting up the biggest political test Massie has ever faced.

Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL whom Trump and his allies recruited into the race, on Monday praised Hegseth’s tenure at the Pentagon and noted the significance of his visit amid a backdrop of war.

“Think about where we are in history right now, and you’re having the secretary of war coming here to little old Kentucky to see you here today,” he told the audience. “That’s something to be proud of.”

“He’s flat daggum busy, isn’t he, with everything he’s got going on,” Gallrein continued. “I think you all would agree, the second-busiest guy in the world right now to President Trump is Pete Hegseth.”

Hegseth’s appearance prompted pushback from legal advocacy firm Democracy Forward, which asked the Department of Defense’s inspector general on Monday to investigate whether it violated policies around political activity.

The secretary spoke of Gallrein as a “warrior” who would stand with Trump, as he assailed Massie’s opposition to parts of the administration’s agenda.

“Ed Gallrein’s record speaks for itself,” he said. “Thomas Massie’s record speaks for itself, too. Too much grandstanding. Too few great votes. Years of acting like being difficult is the same thing as being courageous. It’s not.”

Massie, meanwhile, has downplayed his critics’ efforts, and on Monday, hours before Hegseth’s appearance with Gallrein, he posted on social media, signaling confidence.

“Pickin and grinnin !” Massie wrote, accompanied by a video of him playing the banjo.